High-Speed Wavelength Converter Capable of Converting the Same Wavelength Using a Single SOA in a Counterpropagation Scheme

Author

Liu, Yong ; Chen, Ligong ; Zhang, Shangjian ; Duan, Pinxiang ; Peng, Zengshou ; Liu, Yongzhi

Author_Institution

Key Lab. of Broadband Opt. Fiber Transm. & Commun. Networks, Minist. of Educ.

Volume

21

Issue

11

fYear

2009

fDate

6/1/2009 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

697

Lastpage

699

Abstract

We present a high-speed optical wavelength converter that is capable of converting the data to the same wavelength using a single semiconductor optical amplifier. Error-free wavelength conversion is demonstrated at a bit-rate of 40 Gb/s. The wavelength converter utilizes a counterpropagation scheme assisted by blue-detuned optical filtering technology. The blue-detuned optical filter shortens the recovery time of the wavelength converter, from initial 100 ps down to less than 6 ps, ensuring 40-Gb/s operation. The counterpropagation scheme shows a slow gain saturation time, which becomes a determinant factor for the operating speed of the proposed system. This wavelength converter is constructed by using commercially available fiber pigtailed components. It has a simple configuration and allows photonic integration.

Keywords

high-speed optical techniques; integrated optics; optical communication equipment; optical fibre communication; optical fibre filters; optical saturation; optical wavelength conversion; semiconductor optical amplifiers; SOA; bit rate 40 Gbit/s; blue-detuned optical filtering technology; counterpropagation scheme; error-free wavelength conversion; fiber pigtailed components; gain saturation; high-speed optical wavelength converter; photonic integration; single semiconductor optical amplifier; time 100 ps; All-optical switch; semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA); wavelength conversion;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1041-1135

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/LPT.2009.2016577

Filename

4801699